Defense Lifts Women's Water Polo to Wins over Mercyhurst, Bucknell

Elise Molnar scored three goals for Harvard in the win (Justine Agaloos).

ERIE, Pa. – The Harvard women's water polo team relied on its defense to earn a pair of wins Saturday at the North East Aquatic Center.

The Crimson used a suffocating defensive effort in the first half to top Mercyhurst, 11-3, before limiting Bucknell to one goal in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Bison, 13-9, to improve to 9-4 on the year.

Harvard shutout the Lakers in the first half and allowed just three goals after the intermission to cruise to the victory. Ariel Dukes made nine saves in net, while the team combined to record a season-high 21 steals, led by six from Charlotte Hendrix and four from Aisha Price.

Harvard continued its early season trend of jumping out to early leads, taking a 4-0 lead after the opening quarter. The advantage stretched to eight by halftime, as Dukes and the Crimson defense kept Mercyhurst off the board.

The teams played evenly in the second half, netting one goal apiece in the third and two each in the fourth.

In the afternoon contest, the Crimson outscored the Bisons 4-1 in the fourth quarter to pull away and lock up the win.

Freshman Yoshi Andersen paced the offense with four goals and four assists, while Aisha Price contributed five goals and two assists. Charlotte Hendrix added two goals, and Shayna Price chipped in one goal and two assists. Victoria Frager added one goal and one assist to cap the offense.

Harvard continued its string of strong first-quarter efforts, taking a 3-1 lead after the initial eight minutes. The lead evaporated in the second, as Bucknell tallied four scores to the Crimson's two to send the game into intermission deadlocked at five.

The second half saw Harvard netted four goals in the third to take a one-goal advantage into the final period before pulling away down the stretch to win its fourth consecutive contest.

Dukes stopped 11 shots in net and tied for the team lead with Aisha Price with three steals. Hendrix and Shayna Price both recorded two thefts, and the squad finished with 13 in the game.

The Crimson wraps up the weekend Sunday morning against Gannon at 10 a.m.